generic

[juh-ner-ik] /dʒəˈnɛr ɪk/
adjective, Also, generical
1.
of, applicable to, or referring to all the members of a genus, class, group, or kind; general.
2.
of, pertaining to, or noting a genus, especially in biology.
3.
(of a word) applicable or referring to both men and women:
a generic pronoun.
4.
not protected by trademark registration:
“Cola” and “shuttle” are generic terms.
noun
5.
a generic term.
6.
any product, as a type of food, drug, or cosmetic commonly marketed under a brand name, that is sold in a package without a brand.
7.
a wine made from two or more varieties of grapes, with no one grape constituting more than half the product (distinguished from varietal).
Origin
1670-80; < Latin gener- (see gender1) + -ic
Related forms
generically, adverb
genericalness, noun
nongeneric, adjective
nongenerical, adjective
nongenerically, adverb
pseudogeneric, adjective
pseudogenerical, adjective
pseudogenerically, adverb
supergeneric, adjective
supergenerically, adverb
ungeneric, adjective
ungenerical, adjective
ungenerically, adverb
Synonyms
4. general, nonproprietary, unrestricted.
British Dictionary definitions for generics

generic

/dʒɪˈnɛrɪk/
adjective
1.
applicable or referring to a whole class or group; general
2.
(biology) of, relating to, or belonging to a genus: the generic name
3.
denoting the nonproprietary name of a drug, food product, etc
noun
4.
a drug, food product, etc that does not have a trademark
Derived Forms
generically, adverb
Word Origin
C17: from French; see genus
Word Origin and History for generics

generic

adj.

1670s, "belonging to a large group of objects," formed in English from Latin gener-, stem of genus "kind" (see genus) + -ic. Sense of "not special, not brand-name; in plain, cheap packaging," of groceries, etc., is from 1977.

generics in Medicine

generic ge·ner·ic (jə-něr'ĭk)
adj.

  1. Of or relating to a genus.

  2. Relating to or descriptive of an entire group or class; general.

  3. Not having a trademark or brand name.

n.
A drug sold without a brand name or trademark.
Slang definitions & phrases for generics

generic

adjective

Inferior; cheesy, grotty: Larry King doesn't appear to be generic: he has a distinctive voice, and he doesn't look like anybody else (1980s+ Students)